Watford vs West Ham United - 19.11.17 - Match Thread

Early, I know. There was probably a better time for this thread but as we have people at the door we’ll open up.

My first match thread of the season. Usually a bad thing. Generally know the season has been abject when we get to November and I’ve found no motivation to start one. My track record says I’ll start one before September.

We’ve had a long list of attempts this season.

So, the pretty obvious question starts off proceedings. Think we all know what that is...

Suze. Its going to be a lot easier for West Ham fans to get home from a Watford Sunday 4pm ko than Everton fans getting home from Leicester 4pm ko last week or Liverpool fans from Wembley the week before.

Or indeed for any away fans having to travel home from a midweek 7:45pm/8pm ko

Actually the last time I went away was Old Trafford this time last year in the League Cup. I stayed in a very nice hotel in the centre of town and had a jolly nice breakfast the next morning

I’ve read in one or two places that Moyes is a hard task master, esp in training and he insists on his players doing some hard graft. Perhaps chicharito did not tick the right boxes in that department when at Man Utd with Moyes? Çertianly Gerrard (appreciate he might be slightly biased) was none too complementary about his levels of effort in our last game.

I’m pretty certain only players who are prepared to work their socks off will make Moyes’ match day teams (if he is appointed) - that’s no bad thing really

Since it'll be Moyes's first game hopefully he won't feel the need to play players based purely on their price tag. The team I'd like to see him play is below (However I don't think he will play this team) ;

If we are being overrun in midfield bring on Kouyate sooner rather than later (even if it's at half time). Ideally we should use attack as the best form of defence. I.e. Sakho and Antonio running the channels, Carroll creating space for others.

Go back to basics - get Cresswell to whip in good balls to Carroll, Sakho and Antonio. 3 players good in the air. With a different manager hopefully Sakho can get his head together and play the football he was playing when he was happy at West Ham.

Use Lanzini to get Cresswell to cross. I.e Lanzini goes on the overlap to free up space for Cresswell and vice Versa. Lanzini is great at making these runs or movement in order To allow Cress to cross.

Rice and Obiang simply need to keep possession and let the attacking players do their thing.

If Antonio is not physically fit don't play him. And if he's not in the right frame of mind don't play him.

I'd personally give Adrian the nod in goal. But if this is the case then we shouldn't chop and change keepers. I think it's acceptable to when you have a new manager coming in though.

In terms of subs: if Antonio is tiring and getting lazy in terms of defending then take him off for Byram. If we lack width on the left then bring on Masuaku (he has linked up well with Sakho previously so hopefully it'll be effective having those 2 on the pitch together). If Ayew or Hernandez comes on make sure they are playing on the back of the defenders (they are best getting behind the defence rather than coming deep). They are better inside the box and facing goal! And bring on Kouyate if we are overrun in midfield and want to give more of a battle in the middle of the park (height, pace and athletic prowess).

The most important thing is to not get overrun in midfield. If we can do that we can win this match. We need a territorial advantage and no mistakes or crazy moments from our players and I am confident we can get a result.